Chloe Mitchell Trial to Proceed Despite Barristers’ Strike
The trial of Brandon John Rainey, accused of the 2023 murder of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, is set to proceed this month after a “constructive” meeting between Justice Minister Naomi Long and representatives from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) on Sunday.
The development comes amid ongoing industrial action by criminal barristers in Northern Ireland, stemming from a long-running dispute over legal aid fees. The strike has effectively halted crown court cases involving defendants who require legal aid.
However, the CBA has agreed to make an exception for the Mitchell case, following a similar decision to allow the trial of a man accused in the 2022 murder of Natalie McNally in Lurgan to move forward. This signals a potential breakthrough in the impasse.
Justice Minister Long emphasized the importance of prioritizing victims, stating, “I recently met with the family, and I am humbled by their resilience and determination to see justice for Chloe. We must never lose sight of the fact that victims are central to everything we do. We must protect them, we must serve them, and we must be prepared to make hard decisions for them.”
Chloe Mitchell, 21, was found dead in Ballymena days after going missing in June 2023. Brandon John Rainey, 29, currently held at HMP Maghaberry and formerly of James Street in Ballymena, has been charged with her murder.
As part of the agreement, Minister Long has committed to an accelerated review of the fees structure for legal aid. Michael Chambers KC, vice-chairman of the CBA, welcomed the minister’s engagement, stating, “We welcome the minister’s frank and constructive engagement with the CBA today… Our consistent position has been that our members want to be in court, dealing with cases like Chloe’s.”
Chambers added that the CBA hopes the review will produce “urgent reforms necessary to enable a full return to work.”
Further meetings between the Department of Justice and the CBA are scheduled for next week to discuss the details of the review process.
North Antrim MP Jim Allister also welcomed the news, stating, “Following our meeting on Friday with the Criminal Bar Association, it was clear that if the minister re-engaged with the mid-January plan of a fast-tracked review of the fees structure, then this outcome was attainable.” He expressed hope that the situation is now “on a course which can lead to a fair outcome to the current CBA action.”
The decision to proceed with the Mitchell trial comes after the family expressed their anguish over the delays caused by the barrister’s strike. The BBC reported earlier this year that the Mitchell family said they would “go down on their hands and knees to beg” for the strike to be resolved, highlighting the additional trauma caused by the postponement of justice.
